News
Local

OPP charge Belleville man with first-degree murder, attempted murder

Ontario Provincial Police cruisers block Highway 2 at Switzerville Road in Napanee following a collision that killed a Napanee woman and sent another man to hospital. (Cris Vilela/For The Whig-Standard)

A Belleville man has been charged by the Ontario Provincial Police with the first-degree murder of a Napanee woman in a car crash last Tuesday afternoon.

The OPP have charged 42-year-old Andrew Slapkaukas with first degree murder, attempted murder, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and flight from police in relation to the incident.

The charges have not been proven in court. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is also investigating the crash.

The incident started a little after 3:30 p.m. when the OPP received a driving complaint about a Ford Escape being driven at a high rate of speed on Bridge Street in Napanee.

Officers tried to stop the Escape, but once it was on Highway 2 it struck a red four-door car, the SIU said. The OPP closed the highway between Switzerville Road and Old Hamburg Road to investigate the scene prior to notifying the SIU.

Police say Slapkaukas was the driver of the Escape. He was taken to hospital with a serious injury at the time. Slapkaukas is now being held until his next bail hearing.

The red car was being driven by 88-year-old Florence Wyatt-Morris, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Wyatt-Morris is remembered by friends and family as an active mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who was heavily involved in her community. Her funeral service will be held at St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church on Tuesday at 11 a.m.